Mineral separator



Jul'y 5,1927, 1,634,898

V 5. R. DELAMATER MINERAL S EPARATOR Filed oct. 24. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheetl Zac- July 5, 1927. 1,634,898

G. R. DELAMATER MINERAL SEPAR'ATOR Filed Oct. 24, 1922 2l Sheets-Sheet 2Patente .hayv 5, 1927;

UNITED STATES GEORGE BLDELAMATER, oF'HARnIsBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MINERL SEPARATOR.

Application' filedv October 24, 1922. SerialNo. 596,576.

This invention' isA a -mineral separator 'adapted -for wet and dryconcentration. It is characterized, in its preferred form, by a tablecomprising a perforated plate or screen inclined from ya source ofmineral supply to means for controlling the discharge of the separatedmaterials, having sides converging to provide a gradually contractingcourseof 'increased depth at the lower end thereof from the top of whichthe lighter of the separated' materials are discharged over the sides-orside gates andffrom the bottom of which the heavier of the separatedmaterials f is discharged through 'apocket under controloiz' gates, incombination with means for delivering and disseminating a pulsatingHuid' through the perforated bottom and the materials thereon to eiecttheir movement and separation.

V Desired results secured by my invention are the capacity forincreasing the depth ot thematerials stratified in moving over the tablein the contracted part or throat thereof, for separately dischargingelectively separated materials from the top andY bottom olf this deepsection without discharging any middlings therewith and generally foreectively separating materials of widely varying percentages of refuseor concentrates, free of middlings heretofore discharged and requiringreworking, by an ap paratus and operation that is' simple andinexpensive as well as superior in etliciency.

A preferred form of apparatus adapted for the practice of the inventionis set out in the following description and the accom- Ipanyingillustrations thereof.

ln the drawings, Fig. l is a plan view ot vthe apparatus; Fig. 2 1s avertical sectional View taken onthe line 2X- x oi Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 i s a front elevation of the construction.

.lin the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, a hopper A, having thebottom valve B, is supplied with the material to be separated, as coalmixed with heavier refuse or ore mixed with lighter refuse.

An'inclined screen dr perforated plate C is supported, with its topbeneath the hopper A, b the frame D provided with transverse mem ers D',D, D". Boards E are supported b the frame' at the sides of the screen-anextend downwardly from the hopper on'opposite sides of the, valve the distance over which the material will move in the operation ofstratifying it, these boards or sides being of sutlicient height toprevent such material from escaping thereover.

.Fixed plates E and adjustable gate boards F extend in convergingrelation from the `boards E downwardly to provide a down'- wardlytapering course or section with side gates or weirs at the lower end ofthe channel formed by their combination with the sides E and the screenC. A frame G supported above the relatively flat lower end section C ofthe screen combines with the frame D and sides E to support the plates Eand gates F. The plates E are overlapped by the gates F in the lowerpositions. thereof, and the gates are adjusted to such positions thattheir horizontal tops, will have the elevation appropriate to thematerial to be treated and the general design ot the machine, involvingthe inclination of the screen C, the distance between the boards E andthe angular relation of the parts F, such parts being adjustablevertically along the end guides F and F.

A gate H, of angular horizontal cross-section adapted to divide thelighter separated materials, extends between the lower ends of the gatesF and is adjustable in the vertical ways H to provide the desiredopening between its bottom and the screen for the passage of theconcentrates ot heavier mate- ,the sides of the frame G and is movablevertically in the ways lf to control the discharge of the concentratesthat work under the gat-e H into the pocket J, formed by these gatestogether with the sides of the frame G and the lower end of the screenC. A chute K, fixed tothe sides of the frame G at the lower end of thescreen C, is adapted for discharging the concentrates which work underthe gate H, into the pocket J and over the gate or weir l.

Perforated plates or screens L, L and L are set in the frame D acrossthe spaces of diierent cross-section separated by the parts D and D.Chambers or hoppers M, M and lt' ff taper downwardly from these plates.

which extend across or over the tops of said hoppers with the mainconduit O containing a' rotary valve P through which a' pulsatiigglllp4tions of the screen C and section of the minerals thereon.

This construction permits the force of the Huid to be adjusted so as toeffect the appropri/ate lifting force upon successive sections of thematerials and the movement of the materia-ls from the hopper A, over thescreen C, with stratification of each material, the discharge oftheseparated lighter material over the gates F and of theheaviermaterial under the gate H, through the pocket J and over 'the gate I.The areas of the screens L beneath the materials between. the gates Fare made smaller than those of the screens L beneath the materialsbetween the sides E, and the still smaller screen L as well as the crosssection of' the space between the parts D are directly beneath andsubstantially the same as the cross-section of the pocket J.

In operation, the materials to be separated are delivered from thehopper A under the valve B properly adjusted to regulate the feed overthe screen C, the perforations of which are of such size as to preventthe passage of the materials therethrough, air (for the use of which thedesign is appropriate) flowing from the tank l) through the rotatingvalve P, the conduits 0 and N, the chambers M, M and M, the screens L, Land L and the screen C. The pulsations of the compressed air of suitablepressure, say from G0 to 100 pounds per square inch, ei feets themovement of the materials over the screen C and the stratification oisuch materials. These materials are in stratified condition when theyreach the throat or contracting lower section of `the table and the bedof materials becomes deeper as it passes therethrough so that at thelower end or" said throat, where the concentrates or heavier materialsescape under the gate H, such heavier materials alone escape, as the middlings` or imperfectly separated materials will lie between thecontrolling edges of the gates l" and H with room to move verticallyunder the forces to which they are subjected appropriate to their depthand separate effectively within the throat so that vthe lighter materialas coal will be carried over the gates F and the heavier refuse underthe gate H, both free of iniddlings. The seal of heavier materials inthe pocket J is subjected to the pulsatory action appropriate thereto bythe relatively small passage therefor and is moved thereby and by thepressure of the mateiials flowing under the gate H, over the gateSeparations can be effected in this manner without the necessity forreworking middlings, which are worked in the operation.

though there may be a large amount and wide variation in the content ofconcentrates or refuse.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a mineral separator, an.inclined screen having sides providing a channel that has a lowercontracting section of increasing depth, a gate extending across Saidsection at the lower endthereof with its lower edge disposed so as topermit the movement thereunder of materials on 'said screen, and asecond gate with its upper edge disposed above the lower edge et saidgate first named so as to form therewith a mineral seal between saidgates.

2. In a mineral separator, an inclined table comprising a channel havina perforated bottom and a contractedseetion with a side gate for thedischarge of the lightest of the separated substances from the to of thebed in said section, a gate exten ing across the lower end of saidchannel above the bottom thereof between which the heaviest of theseparated substances is discharged from the bottom of the bed and a gatecoacting with said gate second named to provide a pocket for holding aseal of said heaviest substance and for permitting the top of said sealto escape thereover.

3. In a mineral separator, a table having a perforated bottom, a gateunder which the heaviest of the substances is discharged from thestratified bed on said' bottom, a gate extending from said perforatedbottom to the lower edge of and coacting with said gate `first named toprovide a pocket for holding a. seal of said heaviest substances, meanscomprising a passage under said pocket for distrilmting a fluid underpressure through said:l bottom andmeans for pulsating said tui 4. ln amineral separator, ra table having an inclined perforated bottom, gatesat the lower end thereof, adapted Jfor holding a mineral seal for thehed oi minerals on said bottom, perforated means beneath said bottom`members forming passages of different cross sectional areas fordelivering a fluid under pressure through said means and bottom, andmeans for pulsating said fluid.

5. ln a mineral separator, a table having an inclined perforated bottom,gates at the lower end thereof cooperating to form a pocket to which theheavier oi3 the separated substances is adapted to pass under one ofsaid gates and from which said substance is permitted to e'scape overthe other of said gates, and means for delivering pulsating fluidpressure through said bottom to stratifv materials thereon and to thematerial in said pocket. said means comprising passages beneath saidbottom diminishing in cross `section toward the lower end thereof,including a passage below said pocket of approximately the same crosssectional area,

lll() as said pocket, screening means extending across sald passages,and meansV for regulating the Huid flowing through said passages.

6.. In a mineral separator, a Itable having an inclined perforatedbottom, gates at the lower end thereof forcontrolling the discharge ofseparated materials from 4the stratified bed on said bottom, a pocketfor holding a seal of the heaviest of said mate- 10 rials delivered ithereto under one :of said gates and therefrom over another of saidgates, hoppers beneath said bottom diminishing in cross sectional areatoward the lower end of said` table, conduits provided with valves fordelivering a iuid under control to said hoppers and bottom and means fordeliverin v pulsating Huid pressure 'through said con uits.

Signed at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State ofPennsylvania, this 21st day of October, 1922.

i G. R. DELAMATER',

